Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes is the most-used theorist in this course, and one of two named theorists for the AS year (the other is Stuart Hall).

His two contributions

Semiotics — signs, codes and meaning. This is the theory hook for Component 1 research on both briefs (film and magazine): Barthes’ ideas about signs, codes and meaning.

Narrative codes and signification. In Component 2 textual analysis, you can use some of Barthes’ narrative codes to add explanatory depth, along with the idea of signification: what is denoted at a descriptive level, and what is suggested, implied or coded at a connotative level. This is an option for explanatory depth, not required content.

Where he fits in the course

• media-language — denotation and connotation is the ladder the whole of Unit 2 climbs. The denotation-before-connotation discipline is built into CS1 in L01 and marked in A1.
• Narrative — the enigma code gives narrative analysis explanatory depth without heavy theory, and connects directly to the C1 film-opening research question “how does the film establish an enigma from the outset?”
• C1 research — signs and codes are the vocabulary you use to annotate real film openings and magazine covers.

In class

Barthes is taught across L02 and L03 as the semiotics spine of Unit 2.